Jon Foreman
Jonathan Mark Foreman (born October 22, 1976) is an American musician who is the lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the alternative rock band Switchfoot.
Also recorded as Jonathan Mark Foreman
Jon Foreman

susieq3c (Flickr user) · IMG_2084jonforeman on Flickr · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Jon Foreman
- Birth Name
- Jonathan Mark Foreman
- Born
- 22 October 1976
- Birthplace
- San Bernardino County, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Singer-songwriter, guitarist
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- alternative rock
- Education
- University of California and San Diego · San Dieguito High School Academy
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Jonathan Mark Foreman (born October 22, 1976) is an American musician who is the lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the alternative rock band Switchfoot.
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wikidata · Q3028298 · wikipedia · Jon Foreman
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jon Foreman • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Jonathan Mark Foreman • Born — 22 October 1976 • Birthplace — San Bernardino County, California, U.S. • Instrument — Vocals, guitar, harmonica, cello, keyboards • Genre — Folk rock, gospel • Occupation — Singer-songwriter, guitarist • Years Active — 1996–present • Label — * lowercase people • Capitol CMG • Credential • Current Member Of — Switchfoot, Fiction Family • Website — http: jonforeman.com
Personal life
Personal life
Foreman was born in San Bernardino County, California, but his family moved to Massachusetts and Virginia Beach during his childhood. There he became fast friends with Todd Cooper, who encouraged him to learn guitar. Cooper was later a guitar tech for the band Switchfoot, although he left in 2005 to pursue his own musical career. After several years, Foreman and his family moved back to Southern California, this time settling in Encinitas. He graduated from San Dieguito Academy in the North County Coastal area of San Diego, California. Foreman attended UC San Diego and later dropped out to follow his singing career. Foreman married Emily Masen in 2002, and the couple had a daughter in 2012. The couple welcomed their second child, a son, in June 2018. One of Foreman's favorite pastimes is surfing, and when not on tour, he resides in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a beach community in Encinitas. Foreman is a committed nondenominational Christian; however, his goal with Switchfoot has always been to make music for all people. "For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us 'Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind — and that's what we want." Foreman's father, Mark, served as the senior pastor of North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, California. His mother is Jan (née Carlton).
Side projects
Side projects
• Illustration — Jon Foreman performing with Switchfoot in 2015 Foreman has made musical contributions away from Switchfoot, including writing with Molly Jenson. He appeared on the song "Deathbed" on Relient K's 2007 album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago. In September 2009, Jazz musician Karl Denson released the album "Brother's Keeper," on which two songs were co-written by Foreman, and one song, "Drums of War," was solely written by Foreman, which he also sang on. He wrote "Running Away from Me" for Meat Loaf's 2010 album Hang Cool Teddy Bear. Foreman collaborated with Ryan O'Neal for the Sleeping at Last song "Birthright." Foreman has also contributed to the books The Art of Being and New Way to be Human, the latter written by producer Charlie Peacock.
Fiction Family
Fiction Family
In 2006, Foreman and Nickel Creek member Sean Watkins started collaborating on a duo project originally called "The Real SeanJon", which was later renamed "Fiction Family." Their self-titled debut, Fiction Family, was released on January 20, 2009. "The album was recorded and written in parts because Nickel Creek and Switchfoot are both hard working, touring acts, we were rarely home from tour at the same time," said Foreman. "Consequently the tracks were passed back and forth between Sean and I. Whoever was home from tour would chip away at the songs with no real expectations at all, mainly just for ourselves and for the love of the song I suppose. We came up with a few cowboy rules for the project: No double tracking. No pussyfooting. No tuning of vocals." In November 2012, the band released an extended play titled Holiday EP. Their second studio album, Fiction Family Reunion, was released on January 29, 2013.
Solo projects
Solo projects
Foreman has also worked on various solo projects, independently releasing four EPs, titled Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer, released by Credential Recordings and lowercase people records. In October 2008, Foreman released Limbs and Branches, a collection of songs from the EPs along with two new tracks. In April 2009, he was GMA Dove Award-nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year. In 2015, Foreman released the EPs Sunlight, Shadows, Darkness and Dawn, which contain 25 songs; one for each hour of the day with one extra. Each song was produced by a different producer, with Foreman sending in tracks recorded backstage while on tour. They were mixed by Future of Forestry's Eric Owyoung. Foreman's debut solo album Departures was released in February 2021. The album featured collaborations with Lauren Daigle & Madison Cunningham.
Songwriting style
Songwriting style
Foreman's songwriting tends to be very dynamic, and he often employs a wide range of different instrumentation, including, but not limited to: guitar, violin, cello, trumpet, mandolin, sitar, flute, saxophone, clarinet, synthesizer, piano, miscellaneous percussion, and harmonica. Foreman has always aimed to use interesting instrumentation when writing for Switchfoot, mostly on some of the band's first albums such as The Legend of Chin, New Way to Be Human, and Learning to Breathe.
Studio albums
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • US Current — US Christ. • Departures — * Released: February 12, 2021 * Label: lowercase people/Capitol CMG * * Format: Digital download, streaming — | 60 — 12 • In Bloom — * Releases: May 31, 2024 * Label: lowercase people/Capitol CMG * * Format: Digital download, streaming — — — —
Extended plays
Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and certifications • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • US — US Christ. — US Alt. — US Rock — US Folk • Fall — * Released: November 20, 2007 * Label: Credential Recordings * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Winter — * Released: January 15, 2008 * Label: Credential * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Spring — * Released: March 25, 2008 * Label: lowercase people/Credential * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Summer — * Released: June 10, 2008 * Label: Credential * Format: Digital download — | 162 — 6 — — — — — — • The Wonderlands: Sunlight — * Released: May 26, 2015 * Label: lowercase people * Formats: Digital download — | 104 — 2 — 9 — 11 — 2 • The Wonderlands: Shadows — * Released: July 17, 2015 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — 4 — 20 — 26 — 8 • The Wonderlands: Darkness — * Released: September 4, 2015 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — 7 — 22 — 30 — 3 • The Wonderlands: Dawn — * Released: October 23, 2015 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — 11 — — — 35 — 6 • 25 IN 24 — * Released: March 30, 2016 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Doubt — * Released: November 24, 2020 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Love — * Released: December 1, 2020 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Fear — * Released: December 8, 2020 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Belief — * Released: December 16, 2020 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — — • Departures (EP) — * Released: January 8, 2021 * Label: lowercase people * Format: Digital download — | — — — — — — — — —
Box sets / compilation albums
Box sets / compilation albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • US Christ. — US Heat. • Fall & Winter — * Released: January 15, 2008 * Label: Credential * Formats: CD, vinyl — | 33 — 24 • Spring & Summer — * Released: June 24, 2008 * Label: Credential * Formats: CD, vinyl — | 34 — — • Limbs and Branches — * Released: October 28, 2008 * Label: Credential * Formats: CD, digital download — | 36 — — • The Wonderlands: Sunlight & Shadows — * label: lowercase people * Formats: CD — | — — — • The Wonderlands: Darkness & Dawn — * label: lowercase people * Formats: CD — | — — —
Singles
Singles
• Year — Title — Peak chart positions — Album • US Christ. AC • 2007 — "The Cure for Pain" — — — Fall (EP) • 2008 — "Your Love Is Strong" — — — Spring (EP) • 2015 — "Caroline" — — — The Wonderlands: Sunlight (EP) • 2016 — "Your Love Is Enough (The Inland Mix)" — 12 — non-album single • 2021 — "Side By Side" (featuring Madison Cunningham) — — — Departures • Original version is on The Wonderlands: Shadows (EP)
Other appearances
Other appearances
• "Someday We'll Know" (New Radicals cover with Mandy Moore) – Sony – A Walk to Remember Soundtrack (2002) • "Mortal" - "Mytho X (Greene Edit)" - 'Nu En Jin' (2002) • "Desire" – Noise Ratchet's Noise Ratchet [EP] (2003) • "Spirit" – X Worship 2006 (Switchfoot) (2005) • "Deathbed" – Relient K's Five Score and Seven Years Ago (2007) • "Do You Only Love The Ones Who Look Like You" – Molly Jenson's Maybe Tomorrow (2009) • "Your Cheatin' Heart" (Hank Williams cover) – Sony/ATV Nashville Classic Covers: Volume One • "Birthright" – Sleeping at Last's March EP (2011) • "O Holy Night" - The Eagle and Child's Christmas, Volume II – EP (2017) • "When the Walls Come Crashing Down" – Colony House (2020) • "Don't Know If I Believe It" – Judah. (2020) • "YOUR LOVE IS STRONG (live from the holy city)" - Brandon Lake (2024)
Influences
Foreman cites Elliott Smith, U2, The Police, James Taylor, The Beatles, Radiohead, J.S. Bach, Ronny Jordan, Miles Davis, Keith Green, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin as some of his musical influences. In 2001, he was awarded the "Les Paul Horizon Award" for the most promising up-and-coming guitarist at the annual Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards in Los Angeles.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Celebrity Birthdays: Oct. 22. October 22, 2021.
- 2.Interview with Todd Cooper
- 3.Sutton, Jarnard. Video: Jon Foreman’s 25 shows in 24 hours. San Diego Union-Tribune. 2015-10-30.
- 4.Lott-Schwartz • •, Hannah. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder Schools His Encinitas Alma Mater. NBC 7 San Diego. 2016-02-23.
- 5.JON FOREMAN BIOGRAPHY. August 2018.
- 6.Jon Foreman Bio » My Switchfeed.
- 7.Switchfoot frontman on the group's hiatus, his bandmate's cancer and more ahead of Denver show. Denver Post. March 21, 2019.
- 8.Morse, Steve. Switchfoot steps toward stardom. Boston.com. January 9, 2004.
- 9.Our Staff - North Coast Calvary Chapel.
- 10.San Diego Union-Tribune. Birthday surprise for WWII pilot reunited with pieces of his past. January 14, 2019.
- 11.The Dark Horse: Joan of Arc, Elliot Smith and Me. The Huffington Post. June 30, 2010.
- 12.Switchfoot Evicted By Radiohead, Embraced By Rock Radio. MTV News.
- 13.QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GUYS
- 14.Switchfoot
- 15.Molly Jenson (Maybe Tomorrow review). March 6, 2009.
- 16.Jurek, Thom. Review. Allmusic.
- 17.O'Neil, Ryan. "Birthright" & how it was made. SleepingatLast.com.
- 18.The Art of Being Book.
- 19.New Way to Be Human: A Provocative Look at What It Means to Follow Jesus. WaterBrook Multnomah.
- 20.Nickelcreek.com. Nickel Creek official website.
- 21.Exclusive: Nickel Creek, Switchfoot Members Start New Band. Spin. October 3, 2008.
- 22.Jon Foreman from Switchfoot to release solo EPs + MP3 - Published November 27, 2007 (retrieved April 21, 2009)
- 23.Kim Jones. 40th Annual Dove Awards Nominees & Winners. About.com.
- 24.The Wonderlands, A Musical Planet of Songs for Every Hour of the Day. Land of Broken Hearts. August 2018.
- 25.Switchfoot's Jon Foreman Reveals Plans to Release Four EPs in 2015 – 'Sunlight, Shadows, Darkness and Dawn'. BREATHEcast. November 10, 2014.
- 26.The Rabbit Room - Jon Foreman Discusses The Wonderlands series. rabbitroom.com. January 25, 2016.
- 27.No Limits on This Record: Interview with Future of Forestry. January 12, 2017.
- 28.White, Logan. Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) Announces Solo Album + Releases 3 New Songs. Substream Magazine. January 8, 2021.
- 29.Jon Foreman Chart History: Top Current Albums. Billboard.
- 30.Jon Foreman Chart History: Christian Albums. Billboard.
- 31.Jon Foreman Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard.
- 32.Jon Foreman Chart History: Alternative Albums. Billboard.
- 33.Jon Foreman Chart History: Rock Albums. Billboard. February 2026.
- 34.Jon Foreman Chart History: Americana/Folk Albums. Billboard. February 2026.
- 35.Jon Foreman Chart History: Top Digital Albums. Billboard. February 2026.
- 36.Jon Foreman Chart History: Top Current Albums. Billboard.
- 37.25 IN 24 Collector's Bundle — Jon Foreman. October 2023.
- 38.Jon Foreman Repackages and Re-releases Solo EPs In Preparation for New Music.
- 39.Jon Foreman Chart History: Heatseekers Albums. Billboard.
- 40.Jon Foreman Chart History - Christian Hot AC/CHR. www.billboard.com. February 2026.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q3028298: Jon ForemanWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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